Calling all Morgan sailboat owners and crew!

The Morgan invasion is the centerpiece of the Tampa Bay Hospice Cup and promises fun competition and a chance to contribute to a worthy cause.  We'll be "sailing for Hospice" and supporting Chapters Health Foundation which supports Hospice care in both Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. 

We'll continue the Charley's tradition this year of having "Fireside Chat" with Morgan boat owners on Friday night after the skippers meeting.  On Saturday, we'll head out into the protected waters of northern Tampa Bay for a fun regatta.  Then, we'll be hosting a post-regatta party back at Davis Island Yacht Club.

Register for the one sailing event of the year that you can't miss!

"The Davis Island Yacht Club is proud to partner with Charley Morgan to create an exciting event around the long-running Morgan Invasion,” said DIYC Commodore Bob Crawford. “Everyone knows the great work done by Hospice and how important it is to Tampa Bay. We are dedicated to supporting this great cause and making this a ‘can't miss’ event on the Tampa Bay sailing calendar.”

The transformed Tampa Bay Hospice Cup first took place in 2013 and was put together after Morgan Invasion organizers approached DIYC with the idea, said Hospice Cup regatta steering committee chairman and DIYC member Kevin Fouche. They wanted to expand the popular Morgan regatta, which has benefited Suncoast Hospice since the Invasion’s 25th anniversary in 2010.  The 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (postponed due to COVID), 2021,  and 2022 events were even progressively more well-received with 63 boats signing up to be part of the festivities last year.

The Hospice Cup steering committee is comprised of representatives from the Davis Island Yacht Club, the Morgan Invasion, West Florida Yacht Racing Association and the Bay Area Hospice organizations. Charley Morgan, who is serving on the committee, is enthusiastic about the new format.

“This is a decision that will enlarge awareness of and financial support to Hospice, and to its humane services and contributions to the Tampa Bay area,” he said. “This is a high purpose which all of the Tampa Bay sailing fraternity can appreciate and relate to.”

Similar to the traditions of the Morgan Invasion, the Tampa Bay Hospice Cup appeals to both cruisers and racers. With a strong focus on informal sailing and camaraderie, the event caters to cruising enthusiasts that just want to come out and be part of a fun. In addition to the traditional Morgan Invasion fleets, the regatta also features open non-Morgan fleets for PHRF, Multi-hulls, and a “Just-for-Fun” casual fleet.

It’s all to raise money for the Tampa Bay area Hospice organizations. Hospice organizations are committed to serving persons who are living with chronic and/or terminal illnesses, nearing the end of life, or experiencing grief. They offer comprehensive hospice and palliative care, caregiver education, individual and group counseling, spiritual support and many other programs to those it serves regardless of race, age, faith, diagnosis or financial circumstances.

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